FCC to End Inclusion of School Bus Wi-Fi Through E-Rate

In this Declaratory Ruling, the Federal Communications Commission takes the opportunity to better align E-Rate eligibility with section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act), and clarify that the provision of Wi-Fi, or other similar access point technologies, including the equipment needed to provide such service, on school buses is ineligible for E-Rate funding. Contrary to the FCC’s prior interpretation in the 2023 School Bus Wi-Fi Declaratory Ruling, the FCC now find that the best reading of section 254 of the Communications Act is that the use and provision of such services on school buses does not serve an “educational purpose” as defined by E-Rate program rules and conflicts with the statute’s direction to enhance access to E-Rate eligible services for classrooms.  Indeed, the FCC determines here that extending E-Rate to school bus Wi-Fi was not the best reading of the Communications Act. The provision of Wi-Fi on school buses is no longer eligible for E-Rate support beginning in funding year (FY) 2025, and the FCC directs the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the administrator of the E-Rate program, to deny as ineligible all pending requests for funding for school bus Wi-Fi in FY 2025 and subsequent funding years.